Many people are on my case trying to tell me that the NBA is not fixed. I am constantly trying to lay out the facts that if you look at who plays in the NBA Finals every year during David Stern’s run as commissioner, you will notice that there is at least one big market team in the Finals almost every year. And given how many teams are the NBA, it just does not make sense that we would never in those 30 years see a Milwaukee-Utah Finals or a Memphis-Toronto Finals.
I honestly don’t know all the ways Stern has fixed the NBA. He is very sly. We do know of the ping pong ball fixes in the lottery and the official who was fixing games. But Stern is good at not getting caught. He does not do obvious things like baseball which simply allows the big markets to spend millions of more dollars on its players. He tries to create the image that everything is fair.
But here we go with another Finals with a big market. If you don’t believe me, check this out. Here is a list of every Finals since the Lakers-Celtics 1980s dominance. In parentheses is what that team ranks on a scale of 1-30 as far as biggest NBA TV market.
2009: Los Angeles (3) vs. Orlando (20)
2008: Los Angeles (3) vs. Boston (10)
*2007: San Antonio (23) vs. Cleveland (16)
2006: Dallas (8) vs. Miami (11)
*2005: San Antonio (23) vs. Detroit (12)
2004: Los Angeles (3) vs. Detroit (12)
2003: San Antonio (23) vs. New Jersey (2)
2002: Los Angeles (3) vs. New Jersey (2)
2001: Los Angeles (3) vs. Philadelphia (7)
2000: Los Angeles (3) vs. Indiana (21)
1999: San Antonio (23) vs. New York (1)
1998: Utah (25) vs. Chicago (5)
1997: Utah (25) vs. Chicago (5)
1996: Seattle (NA) vs. Chicago (5)
*1995: Houston (13) vs. Orlando (20)
1994: Houston (13) vs. New York (1)
1993: Phoenix (14) vs. Chicago (5)
1992: Portland (22) vs. Chicago (5)
1991: Los Angeles (3) vs. Chicago (5)
*1990: Portland (22) vs. Detroit (12)
1989: Los Angeles (3) vs. Detroit (12)
1988: Los Angeles (3) vs. Detroit (12)
1987: Los Angeles (3) vs. Boston (10)
1986: Houston (13) vs. Boston (10)
1985: Los Angeles (3) vs. Boston (10)
1984: Los Angeles (3) vs. Boston (10)
1983: Los Angeles (3) vs. Philadelphia (7)
1982: Los Angeles (3) vs. Philadelphia (7)
1981: Houston (13) vs. Boston (10)
1980: Los Angeles (3) vs. Philadelphia (7)
Notice that the years with a star are the only four years that at least one Top 10 team was not featured. And only once (2007) were two teams from the bottom half of the NBA matched up against each other. Also notice that only on team (San Antonio) ranked lower than #13 has won a title. That means 16 of the 17 smallest markets in the NBA have not won a title during David Stern’s tenure. That screams out unfair competitive balance almost as bad as baseball.
I would suggest contracting the entire bottom half of the NBA and just keeping New York, New Jersey, the two L.A. teams, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, Dallas, Golden State, Boston, Miami, Detroit, Houston and Phoenix. If those are the only teams that are going to have a chance, let’s get rid of the rest.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
NBA Playoff Update
I am torn as a very skeptical sports fan over the NBA playoffs this year. I have been so into some of the playoff series this year. The Bulls-Celtics series in the first round is still in my opinion the best NBA playoff series I have ever seen. With it going seven games and featuring five games that went down to the last shot, including four overtime games and two multi-overtime games. It was filled with big time performances and unbelievable moments.
And now here we are in the conference final round, and we have the Magic and Cavs tied at one and the Nuggets and Lakers tied at one. All four games have been tremendous. LeBron’s shot to win it last night was awesome. I hope both of these series go seven and continue to be filled with close hard fought games.
But then there is the other side of me that is convinced that David Stern is finding sneaky underhanded ways to fix these games to benefit the NBA’s financial success. As I have mentioned many times before on this website, blog and anywhere else I can be heard, Stern finds a way to guarantee a big market team in the Finals almost every year. In the 1980s, Boston or L.A. was in the Finals every year except when Detroit and Portland met. In the 1990s, it was either Chicago or Houston every year except when New York faced San Antonio. And then of course you had New York. This decade has seen more variety but still large markets. L.A. has had five appearances. New Jersey which is really an extension of New York has been there a couple times. The closest things we have had to a non-big market Finals was Miami-Dallas and those aren’t exactly small cities.
Stern has had some instances blow up in his face like the scandal of referees fixing games or the suspect way ping pong balls are drawn at the draft lottery. But I’m positive Stern has found other ways that the public hasn’t caught onto yet to fix games. Even big name players like Ray Allen have accused Stern of making sure the large market teams get in to the mix.
I’m convinced that you will never see a Milwaukee-Sacramento or Charlotte-Utah Finals during Stern’s tenure. He would never allow it. He is a very smart, deceptive and extremely evil commissioner that I hope goes away soon.
So here I am torn because I’m watching the games anyway. But when I think about it more, it’s the same as being drawn into watching “Law And Order”, another TV addiction I have. Obviously, that is not real life either. The NBA is just staging its own pre-written drama much like professional wrestling. They just won’t admit it.
And now here we are in the conference final round, and we have the Magic and Cavs tied at one and the Nuggets and Lakers tied at one. All four games have been tremendous. LeBron’s shot to win it last night was awesome. I hope both of these series go seven and continue to be filled with close hard fought games.
But then there is the other side of me that is convinced that David Stern is finding sneaky underhanded ways to fix these games to benefit the NBA’s financial success. As I have mentioned many times before on this website, blog and anywhere else I can be heard, Stern finds a way to guarantee a big market team in the Finals almost every year. In the 1980s, Boston or L.A. was in the Finals every year except when Detroit and Portland met. In the 1990s, it was either Chicago or Houston every year except when New York faced San Antonio. And then of course you had New York. This decade has seen more variety but still large markets. L.A. has had five appearances. New Jersey which is really an extension of New York has been there a couple times. The closest things we have had to a non-big market Finals was Miami-Dallas and those aren’t exactly small cities.
Stern has had some instances blow up in his face like the scandal of referees fixing games or the suspect way ping pong balls are drawn at the draft lottery. But I’m positive Stern has found other ways that the public hasn’t caught onto yet to fix games. Even big name players like Ray Allen have accused Stern of making sure the large market teams get in to the mix.
I’m convinced that you will never see a Milwaukee-Sacramento or Charlotte-Utah Finals during Stern’s tenure. He would never allow it. He is a very smart, deceptive and extremely evil commissioner that I hope goes away soon.
So here I am torn because I’m watching the games anyway. But when I think about it more, it’s the same as being drawn into watching “Law And Order”, another TV addiction I have. Obviously, that is not real life either. The NBA is just staging its own pre-written drama much like professional wrestling. They just won’t admit it.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
What's Going On With The Brewers?
Four weeks ago when the Brewers had dropped to 3-8 I wrote a blog entry on the pathetic Brewers and how this team was destined for a terrible season.
And although there is a long way to go, I will admit this much: I didn’t think they would have a stretch like they have had over the past four weeks at any point in the season. The Brewers have gone 19-6 since that 3-8 start and find themselves in first place in the surprisingly competitive NL Central.
Here is what has impressed me during this run. First, they have won a number of different ways. They have won the way we all thought they would win games this year: by pounding the ball and putting up a lot of runs in spite of bad pitching outings. However, they have also won pitching battles including two 1-0 victories, one in which pitcher Yovanni Guiardo provided his own run support by hitting a home run for the lone score in the game. They have won by jumping out in front and not letting the other team come back and they have also won several games by coming from behind. They have won on the road and at home and against good teams and bad teams.
The second impressive things is the starting pitching. Manny Parra after a terrible start as equalized and kept the Brewers in the games he has pitched. Jeff Suppan has looked terrible against the Cubs and on Opening Day. But in his other five or six starts he has looked very sharp. Brandon Looper has had a couple shaky moments but has been very consistent. And Dave Bush and Yovanni Gallardo have been spectacular. I honestly don’t expect this to continue from all five of these guys but hopefully like my last blog entry, I can be proven wrong.
Most impressive has been the bullpen. How about DeFelice evolving into a heck of a setup guy with an ERA hovering around 1.00. And then the coolest thing is being a fan and knowing that if you have the lead after eight innings, you will win the game. That is the feeling I get when Trevor Hoffman comes into the game. It has been lights out. What a pleasant reversal from last year’s feelings as a fan going into the ninth inning!
And lastly, I’m impressed with the consistency and the winning attitude. It’s almost like this team has learned how to win. That isn’t something we have experienced in Milwaukee over the past 40 years. For the exception of Ryan Braun’s torrid stretch during this winning span and JJ Hardy’s ice cold start, there has not been a lot of inconsistency. A player might go a couple games without a hit or a few without a home run but then they break out of it. It’s been nice to know what you can expect.
Now we’ll see if this continues!
And although there is a long way to go, I will admit this much: I didn’t think they would have a stretch like they have had over the past four weeks at any point in the season. The Brewers have gone 19-6 since that 3-8 start and find themselves in first place in the surprisingly competitive NL Central.
Here is what has impressed me during this run. First, they have won a number of different ways. They have won the way we all thought they would win games this year: by pounding the ball and putting up a lot of runs in spite of bad pitching outings. However, they have also won pitching battles including two 1-0 victories, one in which pitcher Yovanni Guiardo provided his own run support by hitting a home run for the lone score in the game. They have won by jumping out in front and not letting the other team come back and they have also won several games by coming from behind. They have won on the road and at home and against good teams and bad teams.
The second impressive things is the starting pitching. Manny Parra after a terrible start as equalized and kept the Brewers in the games he has pitched. Jeff Suppan has looked terrible against the Cubs and on Opening Day. But in his other five or six starts he has looked very sharp. Brandon Looper has had a couple shaky moments but has been very consistent. And Dave Bush and Yovanni Gallardo have been spectacular. I honestly don’t expect this to continue from all five of these guys but hopefully like my last blog entry, I can be proven wrong.
Most impressive has been the bullpen. How about DeFelice evolving into a heck of a setup guy with an ERA hovering around 1.00. And then the coolest thing is being a fan and knowing that if you have the lead after eight innings, you will win the game. That is the feeling I get when Trevor Hoffman comes into the game. It has been lights out. What a pleasant reversal from last year’s feelings as a fan going into the ninth inning!
And lastly, I’m impressed with the consistency and the winning attitude. It’s almost like this team has learned how to win. That isn’t something we have experienced in Milwaukee over the past 40 years. For the exception of Ryan Braun’s torrid stretch during this winning span and JJ Hardy’s ice cold start, there has not been a lot of inconsistency. A player might go a couple games without a hit or a few without a home run but then they break out of it. It’s been nice to know what you can expect.
Now we’ll see if this continues!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Yet Another Unfair Thing About the NBA
The NBA is notorious for making sure the big markets succeed. Over the last 30 years, there is at least one big market team in the Finals. This is so interesting given how many small market teams there are in the NBA. Here is the latest thing that really frustrates me.
When Shaq left the Lakers, Kobe and the boys found themselves mediocre at best in a stacked Western Conference. There was even a year that L.A missed the playoffs. Two things have happened in the past couple years though that I find utterly unfair.
First, there was the trade that sent Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Lakers. This had to have been the NBA making sure this trade happened. What did Memphis get? Kwame Brown who has been a huge disappointment. A 1st round pick last year from the Lakers which is virtually a second round pick since they picked second to last in the first round. A 1st round pick in 2010. But they had to give up a 2nd round pick. Those two picks again will virtually be the same. And they got Gasol's brother. What a joke!
Second, Derek Fisher was allowed to be released from the Utah Jazz so that he could sign with the Lakers since his kid has a medical condition that requires them to be by a hospital in L.A. Please don't get me wrong. I hope everything goes okay but this is the NBA. It is not fair that the Lakers get an outstanding player just because there is a good hospital in town.
David Stern is laughing again though as most fans don't even notice this stuff. He is also pumped that once again Milwaukee, Minnesota, Sacramento, Memphis and other small markets will not come anywhere close to the NBA Finals again this year.
When Shaq left the Lakers, Kobe and the boys found themselves mediocre at best in a stacked Western Conference. There was even a year that L.A missed the playoffs. Two things have happened in the past couple years though that I find utterly unfair.
First, there was the trade that sent Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Lakers. This had to have been the NBA making sure this trade happened. What did Memphis get? Kwame Brown who has been a huge disappointment. A 1st round pick last year from the Lakers which is virtually a second round pick since they picked second to last in the first round. A 1st round pick in 2010. But they had to give up a 2nd round pick. Those two picks again will virtually be the same. And they got Gasol's brother. What a joke!
Second, Derek Fisher was allowed to be released from the Utah Jazz so that he could sign with the Lakers since his kid has a medical condition that requires them to be by a hospital in L.A. Please don't get me wrong. I hope everything goes okay but this is the NBA. It is not fair that the Lakers get an outstanding player just because there is a good hospital in town.
David Stern is laughing again though as most fans don't even notice this stuff. He is also pumped that once again Milwaukee, Minnesota, Sacramento, Memphis and other small markets will not come anywhere close to the NBA Finals again this year.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Bulls-Celtics: Best Ever
When it comes to basketball, it’s no secret that I have become a huge college basketball fan over the last 10-15 years. And my interest in the NBA has quickly diminished due to many reasons: an extremely long regular season, a ridiculously long dragged-out playoff season, the players are somewhat annoying, there is much more one-on-one playing than in college and quite frankly, the Bucks and Timberwolves have flat out stunk the past few seasons.
However, I usually turn on the playoffs to see if anything catches my eye. Well, the Bulls-Celtics has caught my eye as well as most of the sports universe. These two teams enter Game 7 on Saturday even 3-3. Not only are they even in wins, but in five of the six games, the result as hinged on the final possession of the game. In four of those games, they’ve gone into overtime. Two have gone multiple overtimes and Game 6 was one for the ages...a triple overtime game that a little of everything.
It literally has had everything. I have been so intrigued by how these two teams plan strategy against each other, how they don’t allow the other team to get too much momentum and how hard both teams play. It almost reminds me of watching the college game.
I have heard a number of people say this is the best first round or non-Finals playoff series they have ever seen. I will go one step further and say it is the best NBA playoff series I have ever seen. Usually, I am not one to get caught up in the current emotion and make those kind of statements, but I can think of only a couple other series that drew me in:
-The Knicks/Heat series in 1990-something that included that brawl where VanGundy was holding on to Alonzo Mourning’s leg. That series was intense.
-The Sonics-Nuggets series in 1994 when the first seeded Sonics went up 2-0 only to have Denver come back and win three in a row and become the first 8-seed ever to win an NBA playoff series.
-And just cuz I’m a Bucks fan, the 1999 Pacers-Bucks series which went the full five games and featured the Bucks absolutely destroying Indiana in their two wins but not having enough to beat the veteran Pacers in the other three hard fought games.
I guess I am annoyed by those who say this series isn’t as good as the first Bird-Magic matchup in 1984 or the Rockets-Knicks series of 1994 with the OJ car chase or the Bulls-Jazz Finals of 1998 when Jordan hit that famous last shot. Those series might have had cool story lines or a couple famous plays (or car chase), but they came nowhere close to the drama of this series.
This is the best NBA playoff series ever.
However, I usually turn on the playoffs to see if anything catches my eye. Well, the Bulls-Celtics has caught my eye as well as most of the sports universe. These two teams enter Game 7 on Saturday even 3-3. Not only are they even in wins, but in five of the six games, the result as hinged on the final possession of the game. In four of those games, they’ve gone into overtime. Two have gone multiple overtimes and Game 6 was one for the ages...a triple overtime game that a little of everything.
It literally has had everything. I have been so intrigued by how these two teams plan strategy against each other, how they don’t allow the other team to get too much momentum and how hard both teams play. It almost reminds me of watching the college game.
I have heard a number of people say this is the best first round or non-Finals playoff series they have ever seen. I will go one step further and say it is the best NBA playoff series I have ever seen. Usually, I am not one to get caught up in the current emotion and make those kind of statements, but I can think of only a couple other series that drew me in:
-The Knicks/Heat series in 1990-something that included that brawl where VanGundy was holding on to Alonzo Mourning’s leg. That series was intense.
-The Sonics-Nuggets series in 1994 when the first seeded Sonics went up 2-0 only to have Denver come back and win three in a row and become the first 8-seed ever to win an NBA playoff series.
-And just cuz I’m a Bucks fan, the 1999 Pacers-Bucks series which went the full five games and featured the Bucks absolutely destroying Indiana in their two wins but not having enough to beat the veteran Pacers in the other three hard fought games.
I guess I am annoyed by those who say this series isn’t as good as the first Bird-Magic matchup in 1984 or the Rockets-Knicks series of 1994 with the OJ car chase or the Bulls-Jazz Finals of 1998 when Jordan hit that famous last shot. Those series might have had cool story lines or a couple famous plays (or car chase), but they came nowhere close to the drama of this series.
This is the best NBA playoff series ever.
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